Press Release May 2003

Spink smashes world record In auction of 'lost' collection

The Slaney Collection of English Coins -15 May 2003

Spink once again blazed a trail for other houses to follow when it auctioned the Slaney collection of English coins , setting a new world record for English silver coins at auction. A Charles II Pattern Crown from 1663, the ‘Petition Crown’ , fetched £138,000 against a pre-sale estimate of £40,000 -50,000. This is a World record for an English silver coin at auction, more than double the previous record of £57,500, also held by Spink.

The anticipation among collectors ever since Spink announced that this collection was to be offered at auction was immense. This was reflected in the crowd present in the room, where every seat was taken, and in the furious floor bidding which took place throughout the sale.

Richard Bishop, Associate Director of numismatic auctions at Spink commented, “This magnificent result is indicative of the strength of the market for English coins at present and of collectors’ voracious appetite for fine material such as this. Of the bidders who took part in this sale, a very high proportion were collectors, rather than trade.”

The sale as a whole realised over £1 million.

Among the many record prices was Lot 20, a Edward VI third period Crown which sold for £41,400, against a pre-sale estimate of £8,000 – 10,000, while the Charles I Exeter Mint Halfcrown, lot 60, was sold for £40,250 (estimate £12,500 – 15,000).